The BBC has published an article on the immigration status of benefit claimants.

It can be seen here, and says

For the first time, the government has published official figures showing the immigration status of people claiming Universal Credit (UC) — revealing that around one in six claimants were born outside the UK.

According to the latest Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data, over 7.9 million people were receiving Universal Credit in June 2025, with 83.6% being British or Irish nationals. The remaining 16.4% — more than 1.3 million claimants — were born overseas, including hundreds of thousands of EU citizens and refugees.

Breakdown of Non-UK Claimants

• EU nationals who arrived before Brexit make up the largest non-British group, with approximately 700,000 claimants.

• Around 1.5% of claimants are refugees, while 0.7% arrived through designated “safe routes”, such as the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme or Afghan resettlement programmes.

• More than 75,000 claimants are on temporary visas, despite usually not being eligible for public funds. Some exceptions apply, such as victims of modern slavery.

Employment Status and Eligibility

The DWP noted that half of EU nationals on UC are in employment, compared to just 20% of refugees, reflecting differing employment patterns across immigration groups.

While most foreign nationals cannot claim UC until they’ve lived in the UK for at least five years, some are eligible earlier based on humanitarian or treaty obligations.

The proportion of UC claimants born abroad has remained stable — between 15% and 17% — since records began in April 2022, even as the total UC claimant count grew from 5.5 million to nearly 8 million over that period.

Political Reaction

The figures were published following pressure from Conservative backbenchers and independent MP Rupert Lowe, who described the data as proof of a system “spiralling out of control.”

“This is absolute insanity,” said Lowe. “The country is broke. We simply cannot afford this level of welfare dependency among foreign nationals.”

A Downing Street spokesperson defended the publication, stating that Prime Minister Kemi Badenoch was committed to reducing the number of unemployed migrants accessing welfare. They highlighted recent plans to double the time migrants must wait before applying for permanent settled status, aiming to reinforce a “fair and sustainable” welfare model.

“People in the UK illegally are not entitled to Universal Credit,” the spokesperson added.

Opposition Response

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused the Labour government of “losing control” of the benefits system, calling the statistics “staggering.”

“Under Kemi Badenoch, we’ve set out a clear, common-sense position. Welfare should be a safety net for those who contribute, not a magnet for dependency,” he said.

The Conservatives have pledged to bar foreign nationals from claiming disability benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or the health-related element of UC — a position Labour has not adopted.

Welfare Reform: Progress and Setbacks

The data release comes as the Government battles to reform welfare spending amid internal party divisions. Ministers were forced to water down the Welfare Reform Bill after a significant backbench rebellion. Plans to overhaul PIP and UC entitlements were scaled back, but some measures remain.

From April 2026, the health-related element of Universal Credit will be reduced for new claimants, forming part of a broader attempt to curb spending on out-of-work benefits.

The DWP has defended its current rules, saying exceptions for foreign nationals are limited and grounded in international law or humanitarian need.

What Is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is a benefit designed to support low-income households with living costs, replacing several legacy benefits including housing benefit and income support. It is available to those in and out of work, depending on financial need.

To qualify, most foreign nationals must have:

• Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

• Refugee or humanitarian protection

• A visa exempting them from the “no recourse to public funds” rule

Those on temporary visas or in the UK unlawfully are typically ineligible.

Key Figures at a Glance (May–June 2025):